"If you're heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme..." -Real Wishes

Chapter 20

Sharpay green dress swished around her legs as she sped towards her dressing room.

There was Taylor, waiting expectantly.

"How did it go?" she asked anxiously.

Sharpay smirked. "Step 1 is complete. Tiffany has to go to the emergency room." She turned to Janine. "You go get Gabriella."

Janine didn't have to be asked twice.

"Just how did you figure out she was allergic to raspberry?" Taylor dared to ask.

"I saw her pick out all the raspberries out of the fruit cup during lunch," Sharpay recalled. "She told her friend she was allergic."

"You know people die because of allergic reactions," Taylor reminded her.

Sharpay rolled her eyes. "That's why I told them millisecond! Steep for a tiny second. That won't kill her."

As Sharpay rummaged through Taylor's backpack, Taylor couldn't help but take a tiny step back. This girl had guts but she was scary, too!

"Did you put the costume in here?" Sharpay asked as she threw other items aside.

"Yeah, it's at the bottom," Taylor told her.

Sharpay finally pulled out a blue dress, holding it in front of her.

"Thank god it's not wrinkled," Sharpay sighed of relief. "Gawd, I owe Renata big time!"

"Renata?" Taylor repeated. "Don't tell me you had this costume custom-made!"

"I had to," Sharpay rolled her eyes. "I couldn't risk the possibility of Tiffany wearing the same thing! Besides," she held it up in front of Taylor, "isn't it gorgeous?"

Taylor had to admit, the dress was beautiful. It was royal blue with bursts of diamonds placed over the chest area. The bottom was trimmed with satin and was brought up to one side (link in profile).

"I cannot wait to see Gabriella in it," Sharpay squealed.

"First, we have to get her here," Taylor pointed out. "And you have to tell your teacher that she's gonna compete."

"Right," Sharpay said, throwing the dress at Taylor. "The cha-cha is the last portion of the competition That's at 7:30. You and Janine have to make sure she's ready by then."

Taylor nodded as she carefully folded the dress and dipped her hand into the backpack, taking out various pots of makeup.

Sharpay turned the doorknob to her dressing room and flung the door open.

She was about to leave but she froze. There was her brother, Ryan, standing there with his arms crossed.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Taylor and Sharpay shared a look of panic.

This was so not part of the plan.

Janine quickly made her way towards the gymnasium, speed-walking the whole way.

The gym was already crowded by the time she got there but thankfully, the crowd was thin on the bleachers. Janine had no trouble finding Haley and Gabriella.

She took a deep breath. Time to put on her acting face.

"You guys have to come quick!" Janine said, scampering off the steps. "Haley, Gabriella! Come on!"

"Janine, what's wrong?" Gabriella asked.

"It's Sharpay," Janine said, hoping her concern was convincing. "She's in panic-mode right now."

"Why?" Haley asked.

"I don't know why. I mean, this isn't her first competition. But she's really worried."

In all honesty, Janine was relieved Haley only had one line. Even that one line seemed trouble enough for her!

But judging by the look in Gabriella's eyes, it was working.

"Let's go," Haley suggested.

The three girls out of the gym, Haley accidentally knocking over someone's popcorn on the way.

"Hey!" the kid shouted.

"Sorry!" Haley said as they ran out of the gym.

The three girls ran through the hallways, but the reasons were quite different. Gabriella wanted to make sure her friend was okay.

Haley and Janine...welll, Sharpay wasn't really panicking...

Except now.

"Sharpay," Ryan said. "You have some explaining to do..."

"I'll be in the bathroom," Taylor said, quickly sidestepping Ryan. Before Sharpay could protest, Taylor was outta sight.

Sharpay continued to stare at her brother as he paced back and forth in front of her.

"So let me get this straight," Ryan said. "You poisoned Tiffany-"

"I did not," Sharpay cut in. "I just gave her some raspberry tea and-"

"which she was allergic to," Ryan interrupted. "All because...why?"

"Because Gabriella should be dancing with Troy," Sharpay told him.

Ryan stared at his sister. "Why?"

Sharpay huffed. She didn't particularly enjoy being treated like a child, thank you very much.

"Because," Sharpay said, "Troy loves Gabriella and she loves him, too. They're perfect for each other. And Gabriella is gonna fail gym if she's not in this competition."

"Her name isn't even registered on the competition, remember?" Ryan reminded her. "Mrs. Johnson took it out!"

"We can say she's a last-minute replacement," Sharpay said. "That's totally allowed. I should know."

"Yeah, you should," Ryan muttered. Sharpay gave him a death glare.

"For your information, Ryan," Sharpay hissed, "this isn't for my own gain this time. I'm trying to help somebody out here. A real friend who deserves it. And she's on her way right now so you better not ruin everything! Or so help me, you'll never be able to another jazz square for the rest of your life!"

Ryan was silent for a second after his sister's threat. It wasn't she that scared him. No, he was used to her threats and blackmail by now. Besides, she couldn't break his legs. She valued his dancing skills too much.

No, it was what Sharpay said about Gabriella. She had called her 'a real friend'.

Ryan had never, ever thought he would hear his own sister say those words.

As long as he could remember, Sharpay had never had any real friends. Sure, there were the kids in dance class, but those were just acquaintances. People you said hi to but not really important. When Sharpay did something, it had always been for her and her only.

But now, here she was, telling Ryan that all this was Gabriella Montez...it was unreal.

So Ryan did the only thing he could think of.

He placed a hand on both of his shoulders and, looking straight into her eyes, said, "I never thought this day would come!"

"Huh?" Sharpay said.

Suddenly, she nearly toppled over as Ryan gave her a hug.

"I'm so proud of you, sis!" Ryan exclaimed, giving her a tight squeeze. "You're doing all this for someone else! I can't believe it!"

Sharpay had to admit...the hug was nice. But her hair!

"You're mussing up my hair!" Sharpay accused him. She checked her mirror to make sure no strand was out of place.

At that moment, Janine, Haley, and Gabriella ran in, followed by Taylor was grinning triumphantly.

"I'm gonna go now," Ryan said, smiling at his sister. As he left though, he said, "A tight bun is a good idea!"

"Wha?" Gabriella said as she eyed Ryan. "Who is he?"

"My brother," Sharpay answered, grabbing Gabriella's arm. "Sit."

"What?" Gabriella gasped. "I came here to give you moral support, Shar. I thought you were freaking out-"

"Me, freak out?" Sharpay rolled her eyes. "Please. On what planet?"

"Wait, I'm confused, " Gabriella said. "What's going on?"

"Tiffany can't dance," Sharpay told her. "Some idiot gave her an allergic reaction. She's on her way to the ER with hives."

"Which means Troy can't dance," Haley added, "unless you do."

"So you're dancing," Janine finished, staring at Gabriella's reflection, "period."

"Don't I get a say in this?" Gabriella asked, trying to stand up.

"No!" the other girls chorused. Haley pushed Gabriella back into the chair while Janine attacked her with foundation.

"I did not waste my and Renata's time on your costume just to have you flake out," Sharpay said. "You're doing this."

"Why should I?" Gabriella demanded.

"If you don't, Troy can't compete," Sharpay pointed out. "It's in the rules."

"Should I care?" Gabriella asked with a bit difficulty. Janine was now rubbing the concealer in.

"Yes!" Taylor said, holding a pot of blush. "Besides, you'll fail gym if you don't do this."

"So what?" Gabriella said, although this time her tone was a bit softer.

The girls were quick to notice.

"You're doing this," Sharpay said. "We did not just bring you all the way over to watch. You're dancing. Okay?"

Gabriella looked at her friends in the mirror. All of them had the same face: Do it or die (in a way).

Besides, they did bring her all the way over here...and she would fail if she didn't do this...

"Okay," Gabriella sighed. "I'm in."

Janine's mascara wand was already halfway there.

woohoo! Gabriella's dancing!

Remember to click on the link and remember...

~.Believe.~